April 30/00 10:24 am - Meirheaghe Takes Houffalize

Posted by Editor on 04/30/00

Meirheaghe in Houffalize

Filip Meirheaghe has just won the third round of the World Cup. He dropped his two breakaway partners in the last lap to take the victory, a very satisfying win after bad luck in the first World Cup of the season, when he was forced to drop out with an asthma attack. Christophe Dupouey took second and Jose Hermida third. Rounding out the top five was Miguel Martinez in fourth and Thomas Frischknecht in fifth.

Roland Green was top Canadian (we believe 25th), followed by Ryder Hesjedal. We got a chance to speak with Roland for a few minutes after the race.

"I was very disappointed with the flat. It was a rear puncture, while I was sitting in 14th. I was feeling good, but these flats are just killing me (he double flatted out of Mazatlan). I had trouble changing it, so I dropped to around 38th, then had to work my way back up - I caught a bunch of people in the last lap. I am sure that I would have had my second (Olympic) qualifier, and probably would have been top-10. Everything is on track for my fitness and training, now I just have to wait for next week (St Wendel, Germany)."

Roland also called this race " the hardest of the year so far. There was a lot more climbing, and that climb at the start of the race - it's a hell of a way to start a race!"